Gender differentiation and livelihood diversities among farming communities in South Western Nigeria: complementary roles of tertiary institutions

Agriculture, particularly staple food crops production, remains the dominant economic sector in the rural areas in South-Western Nigeria and for some time now has been characterized by low and declining productivity. Over the past few years, some funding initiatives by some Non-governmental Organisations have been specifically targeted at women farmers with a view to improving their overall farm activities, especially in the areas of productivity and income. Quite a number of variables are possible factors that may lead to differences in agricultural productivity between men and women in the farming communities in South-Western Nigeria. Such variables, according to documented research works, include availability of land — land quality and access to water sources — soil quality, topography, farm inputs like fertilizer and seeds, crop choice, labour, roads, and availability of resources and credit facilities to cultivate specific crops, inheritance of assets, particularly land, etc. Gender differences in agricultural productivity are further complicated with reference to some zones coupled with differences in farming systems, social as well as cultural institutions. This paper reviewed theoretical and empirical works on gender differentiation and livelihood diversities in agricultural productivity with particular reference to the determination of households livelihood categories, identification of the choice of some livelihoods and their characteristic features, and identification of the level of technology adoption on farms and level of productivity in relation to gender. The complementary roles and the positive influence of tertiary institutions around such farming communities were also examined. Recommendations in the different areas were given for future policy and practice as well as meaningful gender mainstreaming issues in Nigerian agricultural sector